Painted Shapes

painting in my sketchbook

Paint more /  Love more that's my plan for 2015!

Hello, Heimtextil!

Are you gearing up for the NEW year?  

We are getting my art together for Antonio to take to the Heimtextil show in Frankfurt, Germany.  Before Luca was born I used to join Antonio for all the shows.  I'm hoping to get back to that someday!  (many shows sadly don't allow kids)

My collection will be at booth H68 in Hall 4.2

If your attending the show stop by and take a look.  There will be lots of bright, fun art for kids & baby... from florals, to conversationals with some seasonal surprises along the way!

Peace & JOY!

Wishing You & Yours a Christmas filled with Peace & Joy!

Christmas Characters...

Both from my Counting Christmas book.

3 Days...

&   c o u n t i n g !

Winter Solstice!

Keep on the Sunny Side... 

Hm,  that's not been so easy to find with it getting dark at 4:45pm.  So relieved that today is the winter solstice & from here on out precious seconds of sunlight will be coming back!  

I'm a girl who needs her sunshine. 

Christmas Choo- Choo

With Christmas right around the corner I thought I'd share my Christmas Choo- Choo board book today.

This book features removable puzzle pieces to play with two ways.  Each piece pops out of the book & can be puzzled back in place. Then... each piece can be assembled together to create Santa's Christmas Choo- Choo.

A fun & festive way to encourage hand & eye coordination.  

*Hold on tight... the Christmas train pulls out of the station in just 6 days.
I think that will leave us ALL breathing a sigh of relief!

Special Snowflake

Playing around in my sketchbook today.

You're a special snowflake...

Yes, you are!

Happy Hanukkah!

I am not Jewish but I do have a great deal of respect & curiosity about the religion.

Over the years I've been commissioned to create several Hanukkah pieces.  This year I bought my first menorah as an opportunity to discuss the Jewish religion with my son Luca.  As a child I had wished for a better understanding of other religions. I've checked out a couple children's books about the holiday to read as bedtime stories.  So tonight at sundown we'll light our first candle.

Wishing you a Happy Hanukkah!

Woodland Tree Skirt

Today I'm showing some sections of my Woodland tree skirt.  This is made of felt & a variety of other fabric.  To finish off the rustic, woodland look I found some wooden buttons & stained a couple in some earthy shades.  I love to cut & sew & enjoyed working on this.  Next step, some woodland ornaments... for next year maybe!

Bear with bird friends.

Raccoon meet Sparrow, Sparrow meet Raccoon.

How do you do?

Bunny loves berries!

A few of the fabrics I used in this Woodland tree skirt.

That's another fun part- picking the palette of fabric & special touches!

Christmas Fun

             He's Been Nice!

Getting Ready for Christmas

Decking the Halls!

Monday

Some holiday art to start off the week.  The helpful snowman. (he has a birdhouse hat)

The JOY of giving & getting!

He's Coming -2- Town!

This is my "He's Coming -2- Town!"  mini puzzle available at Barnes & Noble stores

& Barnes & Noble online.  Super cute stocking stuffer!

Holiday Guide

I've been hard at work on my gift line Jill McDonald baby & kids with C.R. Gibson for a couple years now. I so enjoy adding to the line and watching it grow!

Today I've pulled together some of my holiday items in a gift guide.

My personal favorites are the memory match game & Chrismtas Choo-Choo puzzle book.

There are mini puzzles, little holiday books (3 x 3") & festive felt finger puppets all perfect stocking stuffers!  You can purchase any of these items here.  

Fun Advent Calendar Tree

This is the Fun Advent Calendar Tree card I made for Papyrus.

Turned out nicely. 

That's one of the exciting parts of what I do... getting to see the finished product- via samples.

This would be a great card to send a little one.  I would have loved it!

Here's my original file-

Here's how the card turned out.

Here is a close up of the flaps lifted to reveal the surprise icon.

Always fun to work with the talented folks at Papyrus!

Cuckoo for Christmas!

So here we are December 1st! 

This is the Cuckoo for Christmas advent calendar I made. (felt & embroidery)

 I have it all ready for Luca when he comes home from school today. 

(imagine cute photography here!)

This is a close up of the little bird on a string that flies from day to day after the child removes the treat.  This month is going to fly by so I'm making a point of trying to enjoy it!

It's official the holidays are here!